Author Topic: Any old BMW guys out there? I SCORED!!!! (Read 3765 times)

DollarBill · « **on:** May 03, 2010, 07:39:44 PM »

My brother called me the other day and told me that one of his good friend's mom had a couple of bike she wanted to get rid of. Her husband is nearing the end and she just wanted them gone. He told me she had an old BMW and a Honda Nighthawk with a sidecar. He asked if I was interested in restoring an old BMW. I said I would like to look at it first. He didn't know what year or anything else about it...just that it was an "old BMW". He just wanted the Nighthawk... So we went to look at the bikes on Saturday. I pulled up and I could see he was looking under a tarp under some stairs on the side of the house. I could see the wheel and new the five star wheel was that of a Nighthawk. I got out and walked over and he said do you want to see the BMW and I said sure. As he picked up the tarp I could tell as soon as I saw the fender that I was looking at something better than I ever imagined. As he pulled the tarp further I saw the headlight with the speedometer embedded in it and I started to get really excited.

We pulled the bike out and it is a 1955 R25/3 in freaking awesome shape for living outside under a tarp for 12 or so years. It made me sick to think someone even left it outside. So not that I needed another bike but I offered the lady $1000 for it not knowing a thing about it. She took it. It doesn't have any paperwork that she can find and all she could tell me was that her husband imported it from Indonesia in 97...which happens to be the last time it was registered so it was running in 97 for sure. Honestly, if I can't get it registered or titled I don't care. This bike is beautiful and would look awesome in my living roon restored. BUT.....I really do want to go through the headache of trying to get it registered. The tank was empty and COMPLETELY free of rust and I honestly think a new battery and a key...oh yeah she didn't have any keys for it...and some gas and this thing will start. It turns over nicely.

So here it is as I found it:

And here it is after a basic wash:

Oh and the left side tank pad is actually a little compartment. BUT I DON'T HAVE A KEY!!!!!!! It's killing me to find out what is in there!!!! Time to call a locksmith I guess. I already ordered an ignition key which on this bike looks nothing like a regular key and also does not lock the bike or open the little compartment.

Anyway if any of you know anything about this bike I would love to hear it. I have already done a lot of research and just feel lucky to have found it. I just love it!!! I can safely say right now that this bike will never leave my stable!!!

Oh and did I mention I just bought a new bike? I wanted something modern for once....something that I never had to clean carbs or whatever. So my other new steed is an Aprilia SMV Dorsodoro! AND I LOVE IT!!!!! It's the one in the foreground with my other bikes.

Industrial Cafe · « **Reply #1 on:** May 03, 2010, 07:52:31 PM »

that's a great find man, good luck with it!

if I remember correctly, the ignition key looks like a 1/4 inch headphone plug, and it's the same on the benelli.

jaknight · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2010, 07:58:59 PM »

Hi DollarBill,

Great find! Those old Beemer single thumpers can be great fun.

Look at my post in "Other Bikes" for my thread..... My "New" Highway Cruiser. I think it is still on the first page of the section, toward the bottom now.

It's a BMW I picked up a couple of months ago. Purrs like a kitten....

~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

DollarBill · « **Reply #3 on:** May 03, 2010, 08:08:50 PM »

Yeah the key is like a headphone plug! Kinda funny that they had two separate keys for these bikes.

And Jaknight that is a beautiful beemer you got! Love it!

DollarBill · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2010, 08:47:55 PM »

I have been inspecting it and reading a lot on the internet and I think the seat cover is definitely newer and the light switches on the left handlebar are from another bike. Other that that I believe the rest to be original.... Won't be able to tell for sure until I get my hands on a good manual.

Jordan · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2010, 06:57:35 AM »

Go to BMW Vintage Owners Club site and forum and you will get all the info and links you could need. Great find, I should be so lucky. Vech in Miss. Bench Mark Works for parts NOS and Repros. Oh man, I am green with envy, she obviously did not know what she had.

DollarBill · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2010, 07:04:58 AM »

Thanks Jordan. The woman told me that someone told her it might be worth $3500 but she told me she didn't care and just wanted it gone. I have no real idea of the value but I have seen a few on the Internet for 5k+ restored.

bucky katt · « **Reply #7 on:** May 04, 2010, 07:08:13 AM »

BEAUTIFUL old BMW! i got a factory certification in 2005 on bmw's never saw one like that in my studies though. just twins and the inline 3's and 4's

Jordan · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2010, 01:27:28 PM »

5k-8k depending on originality and condition older beemers have shot up in value in recent years.

Don R · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2010, 03:36:05 PM »

Sweet deal, congrats and I'm green with envy and etc.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #10 on:** May 04, 2010, 04:30:57 PM »

Bill you lucky SOB, she cleaned up real nice.

BIKE · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2010, 03:52:38 AM »

How much luck does one person have to have in order to have a '55 R25 fall in their lap, for that little?

Congrats, that bike is freaking unbelievable.

DollarBill · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2010, 06:43:17 AM »

Hahaha... I do feel extremely lucky for sure! Thanks!

Damfino · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2010, 09:43:40 AM »

More pics please!!!

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #14 on:** May 05, 2010, 11:17:21 AM »

Confusing little bike...
Definitely a 250 (aka rolling anchor), but it has an R25 plunger frame -
while the other bits seem later; like the tank and front fender from an R26 or R27.
The right side panel is a tool box, btw. It would be nice if all the tools were in there. Old BMW tool rolls are the best. You're right about the seat and pillion pad- not stock, either.

Sending good pictureds to Craig at Benchmark Works is a good idea. Duane Ausherman is another guy with great tech info, as is the Yahoo Slash2 Group. The Vintage Club you have to pay to join, but you can read most things on there anyway.

I don't think they get as much as Mr Jordan seems to think, but it sounds like it may be a moot point, anyway.

Brown Bomber · « **Reply #15 on:** May 05, 2010, 11:34:08 AM »

Great looking BMW! Let us know how it goes with getting it titled, I have a '78 R100RT someone gave me with only a bill of sale.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2010, 07:31:13 AM »

Well? Did you find out what's going on?

ksmith0034 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2010, 06:46:22 AM »

Nice score. How's it going?

DollarBill · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2010, 07:06:09 AM »

I have a neighbor that has restored several BMWs. He and his dad came over to look at it and both seem to think it is almost all original. 1955 was the last year of the skirt fender from what I understand so it is original as well as the tank. The engine and frame numbers match as well. I believe this was the last year of the plunger frame too.

I sent photos to Bench Mark Works and Craig Vechorik wrote me and told me to take the front license plate off and get a correct seat for it.

I haven't done any work on it yet. The petcock leaks like a sieve so it needs to be rebuilt. I will be ordering some parts soon... And I will try and get some more photos posted here.

Nikkisixx · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2010, 07:23:29 AM »

That is a sweet bike, good for you!

Gonzowerke · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2010, 09:39:00 AM »

Quote from: Industrial Cafe on May 03, 2010, 07:52:31 PM

that's a great find man, good luck with it!

if I remember correctly, the ignition key looks like a 1/4 inch headphone plug, and it's the same on the benelli.

You can use a finish nail as a key on these things! All old Beemers are notorious for that.

winnipeg550guy · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2010, 02:40:01 PM »

Holy cow! That is a hell of a find. That was a steal of epic proportions for $1000. Congrats.
I picked up a 78' R80/7 last year after years of wanting an old BMW. I get tons of info and help over at http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/

Another interesting site is http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/club/index.htm

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/index.htm

Guys got one on display in his LIVING ROOM.

From what I've gathered the panels on the tank are small tool boxes

More sites.
http://www.economy-point.org/b/bmw-r-253.html

This site has lots of free PDF Manuals http://www.pdfgeni.com/book/bmw-r25-3-pdf.html

bucky katt · « **Reply #22 on:** May 11, 2010, 08:06:37 PM »

somwhere in my office, i have the BMW rep-rom discs circa 2006 from when i was a beemer tech. i know a bunch about the twins, and the 3 and 4 cylinder inline beemers but i'd not ever seen onelike yours in person before.

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Author Topic: Any old BMW guys out there? I SCORED!!!! (Read 3765 times)